New DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Mangini has given one of his first interviews to Modern Drummer. Here are a few excerpts from the chat:

Modern Drummer: What was life like before the Dream Theater opportunity appeared?

Mangini: "In 2009, I was literally lying on the floor of my garage, completely physically and emotionally drained, unsure where my career was going. I was inventing new techniques and new drumset configurations, but I was looking at my kit, saying: Who can I play with that would allow me to use everything I’ve worked so hard to develop? Who will just let me play and be myself-a band that isn’t going to tell me I’m using too many drums, that isn’t going to tell me I don’t groove, that isn’t going to tell me the kit is too big and too expensive to carry around? Little did I know at the time that it would be Dream Theater."

Modern Drummer: Have you created a drumkit to fit the specific needs of Dream Theater?

Mangini: "I showed up for DT ready for DT. Meaning the drumkit’s core was designed years earlier, but I prepared a kit design with DT’s music in mind, with Mike Portnoy’s incredible drumming style in mind. My DT setup is designed for my left foot to be hitting a 26" bass drum. I’m playing totally lefty on a big bass drum. Mike had to get up off his stool and move to another stool to hit a 26" bass drum. He also had to get up and move to another kit to play a smaller bass drum. I have a 26" to my left, an 18" bass drum on my far right, and two 22" bass drums in the center of my kit."

Read the entire interview here.

With the addition of Mangini to the band’s lineup, Dream Theater have moved forward into the studio to begin recording their third release for Roadrunner Records. Guitarist John Petrucci reprises his role as producer, and Paul Northfield (RUSH, QUEENSRŸCHE, PORCUPINE TREE) assumes the same engineering position that he has had on Dream Theater’s previous two Roadrunner releases. The band will kick off a world tour in July 2011.

Mangini, for one, cannot wait to get on the road and show the Dream Theater fan base why he was the chosen one.

“I am just busting at the seams on being the new drummer for Dream Theater,” he said. “Digesting the incredibly challenging catalog, exploding with creative ideas, and anticipating what James, John, John and Jordan will come up with collectively and individually for new music and a fresh stage show is going to be really exciting and fun for me. I consider this opportunity the absolute pinnacle of my career. I can’t even imagine what untapped and future musical genius is inside of these guys; I can’t wait until we get into the studio together. Playing with these guys…it’s the mountaintop. This is where I want to be.”